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Knichole28

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hi everyone,

If you have time please help me out. I am worried sick that I have als.

In August I started having neck pain, which still hasn't gotten better. Had a brachial plexus (neck mri) and that was normal. Then I had an emg of my arms a month ago; and that came back normal.

A few weeks ago all my ligaments started popping, knees, shoulders, wrist, feet... Then two weeks ago I started getting fascisculations in my legs (some are big and visible, others are buzzing feeling). I've noticed that when I walk up and down the stairs... My legs burn like they're tired, I also can't hold my arms up as long as I used to be able to without it being tired. I have aches all over my body... And I've noticed the tendons in my hands are more prominent. And today I noticed that my left thumb trembles a lot; and I feel shaky.

Please help!
 
At the top of this forum is a 'sticky' titled: New Members: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING!

You are supposed to read it prior to asking questions as it answers most newbie questions.

Go read it and only then ask. :)
 
Okay I read it; are tremors a symptom of als? I follow some of the threads here and some were contradicting to the stickies.

Some had clean emg and it ended up being later diagnosed?

I'm just very worried. Waiting for my referral to go through for a neurologist.
 
Hi -- ALS/MND is a scary disease to consider/fear. We empathize. This note is not to deter you from your investigations, but just so thoughts on how we can help each other ...

>Waiting for my referral to go through for a neurologist

good. see #3

Here are some first considerations that may help:

#1 - Read the STICKIES at the top of this forum. Many questions are answered there. 99% of new questions are addressed.


#2 We are not doctors or diagnosticians, but people who are dying from or caring for people with ALS. Some of us have to type with one hand, one finger, via dictation, or even with our eyes, so reading/replying to the anxiety-ridden can be very tiring.


#3 if you think you have a motor neuron issue, see your Primary Care Provider and get a referral to a motor neuron qualified neuro, note: most are NOT ALS/MND (Motor Neuron Disease) experienced!


#4 an EMG, properly done, is the gold standard test for ALS. But also, an abnormal EMG can indicate HUNDREDS of other, non-fatal, diseases. So listen to your doctor.


#5 ALS does NOT present with pain, cramps, or fatigue. In ALS, you feel perfectly normal but your muscles simply won't work. Typically, the first sign of ALS is a foot or a hand that inexplicably just won't lift up. It doesn't hurt or feel weak, it just is limp. That is paralysis.


#6 ALS is about failing, not feeling, so forget the "feeling" symptoms


#7 If your main issue is twitching go to the bfs forum. If you have weird neuro symptoms try neurotalk. There are also forums for health anxiety.


#8 Your doctor is wise to look at other diseases. ALS is rare. In order for it to be ALS, it has to be nothing else.


#9 Many of us cough/gag/choke and/or can no longer speak. It is difficult to have anxious people constantly chasing this disease, when we can't escape it. There seems to be this cult of ALS wannabees/groupies. You don't want to fall into that bucket do you?


#10 Anxiety can be a real problem that can endanger your physical health. It is what leads many folks here to this forum -- it is a self-fueling fire. Try to avoid using google and/or this forum if you can -- if you cannot stay away and off this forum it should tell you something important!


Lastly, if you are still interested, go to alsa dot org or mda dot org ...


We sincerely hope you do not need to be here! But find out first. If you do need to be here let me say "Welcome, sorry you are here!"


-----
Max - Monday, August 18, 2014 12:03:01 PM
-----
onset 9/2010, diagnosed with ALS by Stanley Appel 8/29/2013
It Is What It Is ...

.
 
In ALS ligaments don't pop, there's no buzzing, there's no neck pain (except for those at the end of this dreadful disease), no burning, no aches, and fasciculations can be anything (especially stress induced). On top of that there's your age - people under 30 have a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of ALS, and the further from 30 you are, those odds diminish even more. A month ago you had a clean EMG. Nothing you mention indicates ALS. You need to stop your worrying over a terminal disease that hits people much, much older than you. Get on with your life and Happy New Year!
 
Have never heard of tremors in ALS, either.
 
I am trying to. I have a neurologist appointment hopefully soon. I'm just really nervous about the shaking in my left thumb when I try to hold it up or out. I figured I would ask to ease my mind a little bit.
 
As you wrote, ("I figured I would ask to ease my mind a little bit.")...

with the replies you have received you can put your mind to rest, not just to ease, and completely, not a little bit.

Toast in the New Year by letting this go.
 
#10 Anxiety can be a real problem that can endanger your physical health. It is what leads many folks here to this forum -- it is a self-fueling fire. Try to avoid using google and/or this forum if you can -- if you cannot stay away and off this forum it should tell you something important!
 
I know anxiety causes a lot of health issues. But I can't help but be anxious, I'm only 23 and I really hope that I don't have this. I have one last question... Does atrophy happen before weakness? My left thumb and left arm are much smaller than my right arm (I'm right handed); not to mention it shakes everytime I move my thumb upwards. I'm very nervous as my doctor is dragging her feet on my referral to neurologist... The wait is killing me.
 
No, atrophy does not precede weakness.

You've been told that our best guess is that you DO NOT have ALS.
You DO have anxiety, which cannot be addressed by this forum.

Leave your thoughts of ALS behind.
Leave this forum behind, we've done all we can.

Go away now. 8^|
 
Yes, please kindly leave. We've answered your questions politely. Time to look elsewhere for your answers and anxiety. Thank you!
 
Well, hello again... I am 23 and in the process of being diagnosed with ALS... I'm not here to ask for advice anymore, just saying hello... As I might be here for the long haul; I guess I'm in the tiny little percentage of young people... I don't know how everyone got the strength to go through with the diagnosis process... Anyway, thank you for your answers to my questions before. And hello. :(
 
Oh sweetheart, you don't have any symptoms except what you are imagining.

Please stay away from here until your doctors work with you to solve whatever is going on, then come back and let us know what they found.

I wish you all the best.
 
As these boards are read by many anxious people who will jump on your vague statement I am going to ask you to explain it. You went to a neurologist? Did you have another EMG? What were the findings? What did your exam show? Are you seeing a neuromuscular specialist?
 
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